H is for Help #AtoZChallenge

H is for Help

Helping others is something of a natural habit of mine. When asked I will help the elderly lady read the price tags in the supermarket. Often people ask me to get them some product placed on a high shelf that they cannot reach themselves. Sometimes I will give uncollected advice when I see someone hesitating, or when I overhear snippets of a conversation. If you look lost or are desperately staring at a map, then I will probably approach you and ask you if I can help you.

Only recently I helped my mother, supporting her on her way to the bathroom. As she did not fully took advantage of my help, I had no idea how weak she really was.

I smile when I see someone helping a blind person avoid some very uncomfortable obstacles (they have boulders here that are spheres close to the ground…). I was so grateful when I was trying to carry my baby in her carry cot and my groceries up 5 flights of stairs and my neighbour took the initiative to carry my bags up for me. In Paris one can often see people keeping a metro door from shutting on a person, the reflex to help is very often present. And sometimes people are helping a parent by stopping a child that would have run onto a busy street.

Helping someone can be so simple. It can be holding a door for the person who is behind you. It can be giving directions if you are a local. It can be letting an elderly person sit down on public transportation. It can be telling the bus driver that there is someone trying to catch the bus. It can be letting a pregnant woman ahead of you while waiting at the supermarket till. It can be listening to someone for 10 minutes so that they can relieve their heart and continue their day with a lighter spirit.

Still, help is often absent. I stopped using my daughter’s pram as I was constantly lacking help in the metro’s stairs. I often see people almost running away when someone asks for directions, as they are scared that they will be asked for money instead, it does happen, but it is not the norm.

Not all help is free. After all an author will pay their editor to help them polish their microscope. You pay your babysitter to help you keep an eye on your kids. Being a German teacher, I end up helping quite a bit with the understanding of the German language, and of course I am paid. People propose courses that are designed to help you grow your business, help you become a better blogger etc. All sorts of paying services exist that help with something we might need or want. Help is not always free, but that’s ok. Just don’t start asking for money if someone packed with heavy bags asks you to help them make it through the door by holding it for them, ok?

Hundreds of heavy hounds are headed by heroic and handsome Hans-Hermann Henderson in heavenly Honolulu Hawaii.

During the month of April, I am participating in the A to Z Challenge, my theme is authenticity and eclecticism, which in my book go hand in hand.

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Random acts of help are the best. Like you I love to witness someone helping another person. It doesn’t have to be big but it always strike me that most human beings like to help each other. When it’s between people who love each other it falls within natural acts. But with strangers it’s sometimes more difficult.

This is also how I live. I’ve written about common courtesy before and how it’s lacking in our society. Unfortunately, I don’t see people helping others as often as you do. It’s sad. Glad to know you are out there helping. 💖

I guess it’s the big city that helps. Sometimes help is definitely lacking… Other times though there is no need for me to jump in and help (not always possible either with a little child) as there is already someone there helping.

Some people are not accepting of help, at least in my experience. I always try to help in many of the same ways that you mentioned (except reaching for high items at the store because I can’t reach them even for myself). It’s interesting to me who doesn’t want help because I’m willing to bet money that those that won’t accept help graciously are the same that will not offer help to others. It’s those of us that accept help that also give it!

Not always…take me..(please!). I’ll help anyone I can do whatever it is they need; but I won’t ask for help when I need it! I rarely ask the clerk working in a store where an item might be located because I don’t want to be a bother! 🙄

Oh Deb, you should ask with a nice smile on your face. Maybe that person will then go home at the end of the day and say, “there was this kind lady who asked me for help and her smile and our conversation took my mind of the routine of the job for a little moment”. They are there to help you, and if you ask nicely it won’t bother them, except if they have a bad day…

Like you Solveig I LOVE helping people, but mostly through my volunteering, but the greatest surprise for me is that my neighbors are going to move my husband and I to our apartment. All I could do was stand there and cry! What a blessing to be helped! Wonderful post Solveig!

I hope to do what you do but there is the cautionary side to helping. One day a helpful young man saw an old lady standing by a crossing looking across at the other side. He rushed to her aide, took her arm and said, ‘let me help you’. The old lady, out of breath merely stared at her aide. When they reached the other side the young man smiled and was astonished to be beaten by the old woman with her umbrella. ‘Ow, I was only trying to help,’ he cried. ‘Fool,’ she said. ‘I spent twenty minutes getting across and I was just taking a moment to get my breath back and admire my achievement. ‘

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